President Trump on Tuesday stood alongside prototypes of the wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. (Video clip by Rafael Carranza/The Republic, pics by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty, David Wallace/The Republic & Rafael Carranza).
Produced by Daniel Simon

In a Tuesday afternoon Tweet, President Donald Trump endorsed incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, in the race to retain his seat representing California's 8th District, which includes a large part of San Bernardino County, including Victorville and parts of the high desert such as Twentynine Palms. –

Because no Democrat advanced out of June’s top-two primary, Cook, who has held the seat for three terms, will face-off against Republican challenger Tim Donnelly, the former state Assemblyman known for his outspoken views on immigration and border security.

In his endorsement, Trump highlighted Cook’s record of military service.

“He is Strong on Crime, the Border, and supported Tax Cuts for the people of California. Paul has my total and complete Endorsement!” according to his Tweet.

Trump followed his endorsement Tweet with another, in which he wrote, “MAKE CALIFORNIA SANE AGAIN!”

Paul Cook is a decorated Marine Corps Veteran who loves and supports our Military and Vets. He is Strong on Crime, the Border, and supported Tax Cuts for the people of California. Paul has my total and complete Endorsement!

“I’m grateful for the president’s endorsement of my candidacy and his shared commitment to our military, our veterans, and law and order. I look forward to continuing to work with the president to secure our borders, reduce regulations, and grow our economy,” Cook said in an emailed statement.

Donnelly, who ran for governor in 2014, has long been a central figure in California’s anti-immigration movement.

In 2004, he helped found the California chapter of the Minutemen, a citizen militia that patrols the U.S.-Mexico border for illegal immigrants. He said his views on immigration and willingness to buck the establishment positioned him closer to Trump than Cook.

“I would have loved to have President Trump’s endorsement. His endorsement belongs with someone like me who’s an outsider, not an establishment guy,” he said.

Donnelly attributed the president's support of Cook to “the swamp” and said it reflected the influence of the advisers around the president more than the president himself.

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“He endorsed a guy, I believe, based on talking points handed to him by someone who didn’t have his best interests at heart,” he said. “President Trump is surrounded by the swamp, so some of his advisers don’t have his best interests at heart.”

Marge Doyle, a Democratic candidate who ran in the June primary against Cook and Donnelly, said she objected to the concept of making important announcements on social media.

“The fact that this administration conducts public policy on Twitter is unique and unpresidential,” she said

Despite the fact that the race pits two Republicans against each other, Doyle said she wasn’t surprised Trump endorsed Cook over Donnelly.

“Paul Cook has been a rubber stamp for Trump,” she said. “I expected nothing less. We have two candidates in this race who care nothing about the people of our communities, the district, the country, the American people, or the global community.”

California Governor Candidate Tim Donnelly casts his vote with his family during the 2014 gubernatorial election, Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at the Lake Arrowhead Country Club in Lake Arrowhead.
(Photo11:
AP Photo/The Sun, Eric Reed
)